Hampshire hires Featherly as girls hoops coach

Mike Featherly got a shot at being head coach on a part-time basis with Hampshire’s boys basketball team last season.

Now, Featherly will get to be a boss full-time.

Hampshire athletic director David Hicks announced Friday that Featherly has been hired as the Whip-Purs’ head girls basketball coach. He replaces Ed Haugens, who had been head coach for three seasons.

Featherly coached the Whips’ boys team briefly early in the season after head coach Bob Barnett suffered two heart attacks on the morning of the first game. Barnett returned to the bench two weeks later.

Featherly has coached for 10 years, seven as an assistant on Barnett’s staff at Hampshire.

“We could not have been more pleased with Mike’s performance while filling in for Bob during his absence,” Hampshire principal Chuck Bumbales said. “Mike showed the leadership skills necessary to run a program during his stint as the leader of our program.”

Haugens was 205-100 in 10 seasons between Jacobs and Hampshire and felt the demands of time were taking away from his family. The Whips were 11-15 this season, but will return a lot of experienced young players.

“I look forward to the opportunity to continue the proud tradition of Hampshire girls’ basketball,” Featherly said. “Being chosen to lead a program in such a supportive community is extremely humbling. Knowing the high standards the administration has for their head coaches; it is an honor to be chosen. Having taught at Hampshire for the last seven years, I am excited to start working with the quality girls in the program.”

Featherly teaches social studies at the high school.

“Coach Featherly has brought positive energy to any of his endeavors at Hampshire,” Hicks said. “He is extremely organized and knows the game of basketball. He has run summer programs, clinics and along with other staff members have really cultivated a great relationship with our feeder programs. He looks forward to continuing the work of former girls coach Ed Haugens in developing the girls’ feeder system.”